User:Keaneybr/Directed Attention Fatigue

Directed Attention Fatigue Proposal:

What is Directed Attention?
 * use of brain's global inhibitory system to handle incoming distractions while maintaining focus on task at hand

What is Directed Attention Fatigue?
 * is a normal biological process
 * is a temporary condition
 * happens when a particular part of brain's global inhibitory systems are overused due to increasing numbers of stimuli needing to be supressed
 * is simply fatigue, not an illness or personality disorder
 * 6 major areas of mental processing that are affected by DAF (according to Kaplan research):
 * Input- misperception, missing social cues
 * Thinking- restlessness, confusion, forgetfulness, decreased metacognition
 * Behavior- impulsiveness, recklessness, diminished threshold between thoughts and actions, actions that are out of character
 * Executive Functioning- inability to plan and make appropriate decisions, impaired judgment
 * Emotions- short temperedness, unpleasantness
 * Social Interactions- irritability, feeling antisocial

Overlap of symptoms from each of the six categories is highly indicative of DAF.

Biology/Physiology of Directed Attention Fatigue
 * parts of brain that are involved in Direct Attention
 * is localized in prefrontal cortex, through anterior cingulate gyrus, down to brain stem's basal ganglia
 * mechanisms of Direct Attention
 * brain becomes fatigued while blocking several competing incoming stimuli from external distractions

What triggers onset of Directed Attention Fatigue?
 * multitasking
 * disruptive background noise
 * rapid changes of focus during prolonged period of attention
 * lack of sleep
 * concentration-intensive tasks such as filing taxes, learning unfamiliar ideas
 * stress resulting from emergencies, exams, or work deadlines
 * illness or injury that interrupts brain circuits involved in maintaining attention

What can be done to reduce Directed Attention Fatigue symptoms?
 * reduce number of distractions in external environment
 * try to clear mind of any internal distractions
 * take short breaks during any prolonged periods of attention or focus
 * get sufficient amount of sleep each night

Who is currently involved in Directed Attention Fatigue research?
 * Drs. Stephen and Rachel Kaplan, University of Michigan enviromental psychologists
 * Dr. Bernadine Cimprich, University of Michigan Professor of Nursing
 * Dr. Frances Kuo and Dr. William Sullivan, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana psychologists

Resources to be used:
 * Beadle, S. Directed Attention Fatigue and Restoration, 2006. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. http://www.troutfoot.com/attn/index.html.


 * Berman, Mark G., and Stephen Kaplan. "Directed Attention as a Common Resource for Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation." Perspectives on Psychological Science 5.1 (2010): 43-57. Google ::Scholar. Web. 20 Feb. 2011.


 * Cimprich B. (1993) Development of an intervention to restore attention in cancer patients. Cancer Nurs. 1993 Apr;16(2):83-92.


 * Kaplan, S. and R. Kaplan (1982). Cognition and Environment. New York: Praeger. Republished 1989 by Ulrich’s, Ann Arbor, MI.


 * Kaplan, S. (1978). Attention and fascination: The search for cognitive clarity. In S. Kaplan & R. Kaplan (Eds.), Humanscape: Environments for people. Belmont, CA: Duxbury. (Republished by Ann ::Arbor, MI: Ulrich's, 1982)


 * Kuo FE, Sullivan WC. Aggression and violence in the inner city: impacts of environment via mental fatigue. Environment Behav. 2001;33:543–571.


 * Lezak, M.D., Assessing executive functions, International Journal of Psychology, 17 (1982) 281-297


 * Kaplan, R. and Kaplan, S. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press 1989: 177-200.

Workload Division:
 * Bridget Keaney-current research of DAF
 * Debra Hwang- psychological aspects of DAF
 * Young Byun-biological aspects of DAF